KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's fastest man, Azeem Fahmi, is not coming any closer to qualifying for the Paris Olympics in July.
He clocked only 10.50s in the 100m to finish sixth in the heats at the NCAA East first round in Lexington, the United States, yesterday. The Asian Games bronze medallist finished overall 32nd.
Azeem, studying at Auburn University in Alabama, was way off his national record of 10.09 and the Olympic qualifying mark of 10.00.
Azeem said: "It's been a disappointing season so far but it's okay. It's a learning process for me. Alhamdulillah, for everything that has happened so far, grateful for being healthy."
Malaysian Athletics Federation Technical Director John Ballard said Azeem's American coach, Ken Harnden, was expecting him to do well in the NCAA.
"But the minus 1.6 strong headwind made it tough for Azeem to clock a decent time. Coach Ken had asked me to register Azeem for the Malaysian Open (in Kuantan from June 12-14).
"Azeem will get bonus ranking points if he wins the 100m in the Malaysian Open.
"He will also compete in the Kazakhstan Open in Almaty from June 23-24."
Azeem has dropped from a high of 34th to 50th on the Road to Paris rankings. Only the top 56 sprinters will qualify for the Olympics.